The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1887-08-25
Seven successive seasons has pr

o0'o1 ouCceoSl'e SedSOllS HIS pros
perity and plenty smiled upon the
Sioux valley, and in that time the
country has taken stride forward
that seems phenomenal and decidedly
wonderful. And 'S7. with dry wealth
cr and hot winds elsewhere, gives a
maximum yield in this section. The
small grain is in the stack and the
steam thresher is putting and painting
from overwork; the moving machine
is put on the jump and the nutritious
grasses are falling as fast as men and
money can do the job; the corn-tields
are groaning with their rapidly ripen-
ing product and the darkness of late
twilight is the only thing that puts a
quietus to the mad scramble Of the
farmer and the hired men in corralling
the hay, the grain, and other products
that must be looked after. Long
train loads of cattle have been shipped
into Dakota for grazing and on their
return are heavily loaded with early
grain and hay. This puts money into
circulation and the harvest boom is
already on.
Territorial Statist;cian Mcclure has
issued a circular letter giving in tabu-
lar form the result of his inquiries in
each county regarding crops. His
correspondents are all farmers, and
five were selected in different parts of
each county. The showing is highly
satisfactory. Reckoning 100 as per
feet crop, it is shown that the average
condition of wheat in seventy-six
counties is 10 per cent, corn 80, oats
70, rye GO, barley 81, buckwheat 80,
flax y, native hay Il, vegetables sc.
The only locality reporting lack of
moisture is the Bismarck signal sta
ton, extending as far east as James
town. Even in that region, where the
rainfall in June was about one third |
that of any previous year, wheat will
q Won" so-h"lf. q zernn- and corn stands !
at 100 and vegetables and all root |
crops are nearly perfect. Corn is a
perfect crop in twenty-one counties,
and over 80 per cent. in forty-tw
counties. In what has always been
considered an exclusively wheat region
north of the forty-sixth parallel, corn
is the best this year. In fact, corn is
king throughout the territory. The
average temperature of the territory
in June at nine United States signal
stations was 67.6; rainfall, 1923 inches |
or l.9 less than the average for seven
years. In few localities the crop of
small grain has been seriously injured |
by prolonged drouth, gopher pests or
other unfortunate circumstances. But
when we consider the vast surface of
the territory, equaling in extent the
vast area of all of New England, to-
gether with the states of New York
and Pennsylvania, it is not to be ex-
pected that a season will be SO favor
able as to result in a perfect crop in
every county. There has been little
or no damage from hail or other dis
astrous storms, and no reports of raw
ages by chinch bugs. Fourteen coun-
ties report the condition of the crops
to be the best ever known. The con-
dition of the corn crop is especially
gratifying. Nearly one half Of the in
dividual reports, a large share of
which are from farmers north of the !
fortysixth parallel, place the crop at
100. The lesson taught by the result
of this years operations will in the fu-
ture lead farmers to still further diver
sify their crops, the greatest possible
good will have been accomplished for
the agricultural interests of the ter
ritory. The statistics show that in
June there were new filings at the ten
United States land offices in Dakota
on 999, ,S59 acres Of land; acquired by
final proof and by entry, 755,64S acres.
The total number of pre- emption fill
ings is 2,649 homestead; 1892 timber
culture; 1889 pre-emption proofs;
commuted homesteads, 954; final home
stead proofs, 18S, purchased by land
scrip, $40 acres. On the basis of the
calculation adopted by this Office there
was gain during June of 1909 souls,
or at the rate of 81 900 for the year.
1t is thought that the wheat yield
in Dakota this season will reach TO-
100000 bushels, and larger corn
yield than ever. In the Sioux valley
corn will average over 50 bushels to
the acre; oats, which are only two
thirds of crop, will reach so bushels;
wheat, about 20. Millions of tons of
hay will be fed to the mammoth herds
of cattle, and thousands of train-loads
of hay to spare will be shipped farther
eastward. South Dakota is a pretty
safe place for investment and settle